NHL ROUNDUP.

Sabres 1, Senators 0

James Patrick scored for the Sabres, who won their second straight and moved within two points of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Ottawa goaltender Patrick Lalime made 26 stops. The Senators lost back-to-back games for the first time since early December, and are 0-3-2 in the last nine days.

With the fifth shutout of his rookie season, Biron broke a tie for the league lead. He had been even with Calgary's Fred Brathwaite, St. Louis' Roman Turek and Ottawa's Ron Tugnutt, who was sidelined Friday because of the flu.

The last rookie goalie to post as many shutouts was Tommy Soderstrom, who had five for Philadelphia in 1992-93. Biron has blanked Ottawa twice; he was involved in a 0-0 tie Dec. 8.

Patrick's goal came early, as he scored his third just 2:37 into the game. His slap shot from the top of the right faceoff circle went over the left shoulder of Lalime.